Clothes-pin.



K. M. CURLEY. CLOTHES PIN. APPLICAT|ON FILED MAY 31, 1911.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918;

UNITE %TATE% PAET @FFTQE.

KATE M. CURLEY, OF OGALALLA, NEBRASKA.

CLOTHES-PIN.

Application filed May 31, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KATE M. CURLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogalalla, in the county of Keith and State of Nebraska, have invented certain useful Improvements in Clothes-Pins, of which the following is a specification, reference being held therein to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to clamps or clips used for securing clothes or the like to clothes lines, and more particularly to the class of clothes pins.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a clothes pin of this character wherein the jaws thereof are hinged together in a novel manner and the pivot of the hinge is of such construction as to prevent the displacement of the spring serving to hold the jaws in grippingor clamping position relative to each other, the spring being of a formation to exert the necessary pressure to avoid the slipping of the clothes pin or the release of the clothes from the line, while the pivot of the hinge sustains the spring in its proper working position.

Another object of the invention is the pro-.

vision of a clothes pin of this character wherein the jaws thereof are of relatively wide construction to assure a firm grip upon the line and the clothes or the like so as to prevent the clothes from falling from the line when subjected to wind or the accidental dropping of the clothes resultant from the weight thereof when upon the line.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a clothes pin of this character wherein the construction thereof is novel in form to assure strength and durability and itlso to positively hold the clothes upon the me. i a

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a clothes pin of this characterwhich is simple inconstruction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in its purpose and inexpensive in manufacture.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter set forth.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter described, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clothes Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 15, 1918.

Serial No. 172,069. 7

pin constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the clothes pin;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View;

Fig f is a plan view.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the clothes pin comprises complementary jaws 5, each being of the required length, and relatively wide, the width being uniform throughout the length of the jaw and the gripping end of the latter slightly beveled or tapered.

Bridging the jaws 5 are substantially U- shaped straps 6 preferably made from metal, having the required rigidity and strength, the limbs 7 of each strap 6 being slightly inset so as to form the embracing portion 8 for the longer edges of the jaws 5, and these limbs 7 constitute the bearings for the jaws.

Passed through the limbs 7 is a screw 9 which is formed with a head 10 and carries a nut 11, which latter, together with the head, prevents displacement of the screw which constitutes the pivot for the jaws 5. Passed through the strap 6 and engaged in the jaws 5 are fasteners 12 which secure the jaws to the straps.

Engaged about the screw 9 and held against displacement thereon by the threads 13 on said screw 9 are the coils of a spring having the wide looped portion 15 and the arms 16 which play against the inner faces of the jaws 5 so that the gripping ends of the jaws will be sustained closed and the tension of the spring will serve to positively hold clothes upon the line to avoid the dropping of the clothes when subjected to high wind or the accidental falling of the same, while the clothes pin will be prevented from displacement when engaged with the line and clothes thereon.

The strap members embracing the jaws as they do, serve to prevent the spring from exerting an undue strain on the fasteners 17, since the insetting of the limbs of the strap members operates to offset the tendency of the springs to force the limbs downwardly from their normal right angular positions with respect to the jaws. Were it not for this peculiar construction, the

fasteners 12 would be called upon to resist this force of the spring. This particular construction permits the use of wooden jaws with as much effectiveness as if the whole device were metal and the limbs were inturned integral portions of metal aws. The advantage of the use of Wooden jaws is obvious, inasmuch as they do not rust and therefore will not stain clothes, a serious disadvantage with metal jaws.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and operation of the herein described clothes pin will be readily apparentwand, therefore, a more extended explanation has been omitted.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

A clothes pin comprising a pair of relatively Wide jaws, substantially U-shaped strap members straddling the jaws transversely on the outside thereof, and having limbs which are inset from the side edges of the jaws on the inside of the latter, whereby the U-shaped strap members are enabled to engage the jaws in such a manner as to prevent displacement of the strap members when the jaws are opened and closed, a screw passing through the limbs and forming a pivot, fasteners passing through the transverse portions of the strap members and entering the jaws, and a spring having coils encircling the screw and also having a looped end bearing upon the inner face of one jaw, and arms being against the inner face of the other jaw to hold the two jaws closed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

KATE M. CURLE'Y. 

